11 claim innocence in Mexican Mafia prison gang case

11 claim innocence in Mexican Mafia prison gang case

Jul. 25, 2017

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Eleven people who are charged in a conspiracy case as a result of a three-year-long investigation into the Mexican Mafia have pleaded not guilty to felony charges.

The San Diego Union-Tribune reports (http://bit.ly/2vWoVZJ ) the four men and seven women pleaded not guilty on Monday. They are among 20 people who are accused of using prison phones, contraband cellphones, mail and email to communicate with associates outside the prison walls, who extorted victims, sold drugs and collected money on behalf of incarcerated gang members.

The defendants face charges including conspiracy to commit torture, conspiracy to commit assault causing great bodily injury, extortion, possession of drugs for sale, conspiracy to commit arson and possession of an assault weapon.